Over 1,000 German Legal Experts Urge Court to Ban Far-Right AfD

More than 1,000 legal professionals in Germany have formally called on the federal government and parliament to initiate constitutional proceedings aimed at banning the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

The open letter, organized by the Republican Lawyers' Association (RAV), has gathered at least 1,051 signatures from lawyers, judges, prosecutors, administrative jurists, and legal trainees.

Legal Basis and Democratic Risk

The initiative references a legal study by the Society for Civil Rights, which concluded that AfD policy violates core principles of human dignity and democracy enshrined in Germany's Basic Law.

Signatories warned that failing to act risks causing grave harm to the nation's democratic structure and threatening vulnerable populations should the party enact its platform.

RAV Co-Chair Angela Furmaniak urged immediate executive action, stating the constitution provides "an instrument that must finally be used" and insisting politicians cannot "hide behind sham arguments" but must "act before it is too late."

Constitutional Framework

Under Article 21, Paragraph 2 of the Basic Law, political parties that seek to impair or abolish the free democratic basic order can be declared unconstitutional by the Federal Constitutional Court.

Only the Bundestag, Bundesrat, or federal government holds the authority to file a ban application with the court against a nationwide political party.

Germany's domestic intelligence service currently monitors the AfD as a suspected right-wing extremist entity, with several state branches designated as confirmed extremist groups.

While proponents within government circles, including a federal minister, attempt to build parliamentary majorities for the motion, AfD leadership has dismissed the push as naive.